Relay



Dec. 3o, 1941.

J. F. MERKEL RELAY Filed Aug. 18, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JT FMerkeI I wml@ @afm H15 ATToNEY Dec. 30, 1941. J, F, MERKEL 2,268,261

RELAY Filed Aug. 18, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.. B.

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' f@ f'e-vwzokel L@ 111i O LO/"O mwa@ 75 H ATTONEY Patented Dec. 30, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE amsn may Joseph F. Merkel, Rochester, N. Y., aligner to geerd Railway Sinai Company, Rochester.

Application AIM 18, 1938, Serial No. 225,545 13 Claims. (Cl. 20C-l1) This invention relates in general to electriin a limiting sense, two forms which the incally operated relays, and has more particular vention can assume. In the drawings: reference to a relay of the vane type. Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of one form In relays of the type here concerned, dimof relay in accordance with this invention.

culties have been experienced in preventing s Pig. 2 is a front elevation, with parts shownl warping and distortion of the vane. Dimcuities in section. and parts broken away, of the form have also been encountered in providing a of invention of Fig. 1.

wholly satisfactory damping or stop means for Fig. 3 is a top plan view, with parts shown in the moving parts, for bringing them to a stop section, of the invention of Fig. 1.

at the end of a movement without undue vil F18- 4 i8 u Sectional Side elevtlon 0f Slightly bration and rebound. modified form of relay, in accordance with this In relays of this type. it has been found that invention.

lexcessive wear appears at various of the pivot Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a points, so as to require frequent replacement detail of the relay of Fis. 4. of parts. l5 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of a With the above and other considerations in deta of the relay of Fig. 1.

mind. it is proposed, in accordance with the Fig. 'I is a detailed View of an element common present invention, to provide a vane relay of a to the two forms of relays.

construction which largely obviates many of the Fig. 8 is a sectional view, on line 8 8 of Fig.

disadvantages and drawbacks encountered in zo 4, viewed in the direction of the arrows.

relays heretofore produced. Referring now to the drawings, and rst to One of the objects of the present invention F18 l, there is here Shown 9' l'eluy Support Tack is to provide a vane relay having a vane which having sections l and 2. interconnected by bolts is largely free from warping and distortion and I. Fastened to section I of the rack, by boltthus does not get out of its proper position with ins it thereto as at I, is a support rod 5. exrespect to its operating magnetic structure. tending forwardly of the relay rack and termi- A further feature of the present invention is noting in a threaded Outer end 6. There are the provision of an improved stop or damping two of these rods 5, for supporting each relay. means which readily absorbs the energy of the as shown in Fig. 3, for example. moving parts which are promptly stopped and The relay mechanism and Operated Darts are y largely prevents rebound, and the replacement largely eoni'lined in a casting C of aluminum of the damping means, or other suitable material, and of a general A further feature of the present invention is bOX-like Shape. With en Open front end. This the provision of knife-edge bearings of various casting has a top portion lI, a bottom portion characters for preventing excessive wear and 8, with side portions S and III, and a rear porthus the necessity for frequent replacement of tion Il. The casting, at the rear, also has a bearings. bearing portion I2, which rests against the rack A further feature of this invention is the promember I, when the relay is fixed in position. vision of a novel adjusting means between a In the mechanism casting is an annular groove biasing member and the vane member, whereby 40 I3, for receiving the open end of relay casing to permit accurate adjustment during assem- Il, which can be made of glass, or other suitblage. able. and preferably transparent, material, such A further feature of the present invention is as any one of the numerous transparent low the provision of a holding means for the relay, temperature plastics which are readily availwhereby the means for holding the relay to its able.

fixed support, and the means for holding the Connected to the mechanism casting are two I relay casing in position to cover the relay mechatubes I5, which receive the holding rods 5, and nism within the cosine. are unusually convenin turn receive the casing I I, the ends of tubes iently located and compact in their arrange- I5 being threaded, as at I 6, to receive nuts I1, ments. 60 for clamping the casing onto the mechanism Further objects, Purposes and characteristic casting. These nuts Il have plates I8 confeatures of this invention will appear as the nected thereto, which extend forwardly and description progresses. reference being made to then inwardly toward each other as at I9, with the accompanying drawings showing, solely by the portions I8 drilled to receive a wire 20, exway of example, and in no manner whatsoever tending between the two members I9, with the two ends of wire interconnected by a seal or the like (not shown). In this fashion, in order that the casing I4 can be removed from the mechanism casting, it is necessary first to break the seal, in order to remove the nuts I1, and permit the separation of the casing from the mechanism casting.

Projecting through the tubes I5 and the nuts I1 are the holding rods 5, on the threaded outer end E of each of which is a holding nut 2l, for clamping the relay, including the casing, onto the rods 5.

With the arrangement as just described, it is obvious that the relay can be bodily removed from the relay rack member I, by merely removing the nuts 2l, and without breaking any seal. If, however, it is desired to remove the casing from the mechanism casting, the seal must be broken in order to permit removal of the holding nuts I1.

The magnetic structure employed in this relay is of the type shown and described in the patent to W. K. Howe, No. 1,882,846, granted October 18, 1932, and accordingly, need not be described in any great detail in the present specification. In brief, the magnetic structure involves a V- shaped or two legged member 22, having a back strap 22h and the two legs 22a, 22a, of laminated magnetic steel, connected to the casting by screws 23, and carrying an energizing winding 24, connected to an external source of energy by two wires 25. Facing the ends of the two legs 22a of core 22, is a three legged laminated core structure 26, having the two outside legs 26a, 26a and carrying a coil 21 on the middle leg, and energized from an external source by wires 28. The facing ends of the legs of the core structures can be seen best in Fig. 2, at 22a and 26a, and these cores are spaced .to leave a slot 3| therebetween, for receiving the vane in the usual manner.

The vane of this relay, together with other parts to be described below, in detail, is carried by spindle 32, supported by the sides 9 and I0 of the mechanism casting, in knife-edge and thrust bearings 33, of the type shown and described in the patent to J. L. Osborne, No 1,785,702, granted December 16. 1930.

The vane, as can best be seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is constituted by a thin arcuate plate 34, of a nonmagnetic material such as aluminum, copper, or the like. This plate, in its dimension toward spindle 32, is relatively narrow, so as to just properly cooperate with the magnetic structure by which it is operated.

For supporting the vane on spindle 32, there are employed two arms, forming a bifurcated arm structure, at each end of the vane, designated, at the left side of Fig. 1, as and 36; the lower ends of the arms 35 and 36 being riveted, at 31, to an end of the vane, with these arms being spaced at their upper ends, where they are received on spindle 32, and spaced by a spacer 38, whereby to make a very strong rigid arm support for the vane, and one which is much less liable to warping and distortion than would be the case if the vane were extended in the usual fashion up to the spindle 32, as a continuous at thin plate. The two arms at the other end of vane 34. are designated as 39, for convenience in future reference thereto.

While the arms at the two ends of the vane have been referred to as two separate arms in each case, it can be seen from Fig. 7 that these four arms are constituted by two stamped out,

or otherwise formed, members, each having a general V-shape, and being perforated at to receive the spindle 32. Each of these V-shaped members, two of which constitute the two sets of arms for supporting a vane, are perforated at 4I at the outer end of each arm, to receive the rivets 31, above referred to, for fastening the V-shaped member to the vane. On one of the arms, such as 39, for example, is a support plate 42, pressed at right angles to the plane of the arm, with the other arm, as 39, having a projecting lug 43, whereby when two of the V-shaped members are placed together, and back to back, as in their assembled position as seen in Fig. l, for example, a support is furnished in the case of each pair of arms, for each end of the vane, for supporting a stop member such as 44 and 45 respectively at the left and right of Fig. 1, for a purpose to be more completely described below. These stop members 44 and 45 are fastened to the plates 42 by rivets or the like, passing through holes 45 in plate 42.

Carried by spindle 32, is the vane 34, as described just above, which vane is supported by an arrangement of parts which can be conveniently designated as a vane assembly VA. Also carried by this spindle 32, is a contact operating assembly CA, and a biasing weight assembly BA.

The contactl operating means can be best seen from Fig. 1, and is constituted by a contact operator 41, connected by a pin 48, to a crank arm 49, on the contact operating assembly CA, and its lower end is connected, by means of notches 50, to movable contact fingers 5I and 52 which carry rollers 53 receivable in the notches. At the outer ends of the contact fingers 5I and 52, are low resistance metal contact points 54, made preferably of silver, and these cooperate with iixed .contacts 55 of copper impregnated carbon, or the like, carried by contact fingers 58, having usual pressure and stop plates 51 and 59 respectively. The contact ngers are carried in a block of molded insulating material 59, supported in the mechanism casting at and 6I. The contact fingers have projections, such as 62 and 63, to

form a socket to receive a plug 64, for electrically connecting each contact iinger with a separate wire, as 65 and 66, extending to the rear of the relay rack section I.

At a point near the contact carrying block 59, the contact fingers 5I and 52 are milled out, as at 5| 2 and 522, to a thinner dimension, whereby to substantially produce a pivot at this point. In this manner the contact fingers 5I and 52 at their outer ends are relatively rigid, and hence build up a contact pressure with the fixed contacts Without any material amount of iiexing at their outer ends. With this construction it is possible to build up proper contact pressure without the expenditure of an undue amount of energy.

It is obvious that with the arrangement of parts just described, in connection with the operation of the contacts, upon spindle 32 being rocked, the operator 41 will be raised or lowered, and the contacts will be correspondingly oper ated, in the usual manner.

The vane of this relay is biased to a. normal deenergized position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the lower pair of contacts closed, and the upper pair of contacts open. 'I'his is accomplished by means of a biasing weight 61, constituted by a plurality of washers, or the like, B8, so that the weight can be readily varied in amount. The Washers are held together by a screw 69, conazeaaei 3 necting the washers to extending arms 13 and 1|, which are pivoted on a pin 12, carried by one side of the mechanism casting, and by an inwardly extending boss 13 on the casting. As best seen in Fig. 6, a connecting arm 1| is pivoted, at 15, between the arms 13 and 1|, and at its upper end |33, the arm terminates in a loop received over a knife-edge bearing 13, carried by the biasing means assembly.

With the arrangement of parts just described in connection with the biasing means, it can be readily seen that the biasing weight 31 tends to rock the arms 1l and 1| on the fixed pivot 12, and by means o! the crank 11 which carries the knife edge bearing 13, tends to rock the spindle 32 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. Thus, the vane upon being moved to its operated position, and away from its biased position, must raise the biasing weight, and upon deenergization, the biasing weight moves the vane back again to its normal biased position, all as will appear more clearly in the description to follow.

In order to limit the movement of the vane in either its operated movement, or its biased movement, a stop or damping vmeans is employed which can conveniently be termed a bumper. This bumper, as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2, is constituted by a tube |31, of steel or other suitable material, extending between'the two sides of the mechanism casting and held in place by an elongated screw 13 which pames through the side 9 of the casting and is threaded into the side I3 of the casting at 19, with the tube loosely received on the screw. By tightening up on the screw the sides of the casting can easily be sprimg to rigidly grip the tube in place, and if necessary shims or washers can be employed so that the tube is rigidly held in position.

This tube |31 passes across the casting at right angles to the plane of the vane, and is positioned between the two vane legs 33 and 39, and in line with the path of movement of the two stops u and 4I, which are fastened to the supporting legs for the vane.

Constituting the bumper proper is a thin cylinder 33, of sulphur containing rubber, which is molded directly onto the steel tube |31, and over this is a cylinder of non-sulphur containing rubber 3|, which is molded directly onto the rubber 33 and extends at the ends l2, beyond the rubber 3l, so as to completely cov'er the sulphur containing rubber. Carried by the rubber member 3| is a band, 33, of metal, such as steel or the like, which is molded into the rubber, and held securely in place by an inwardly projecting ring 3|. This bumper ring 33 is positioned directly in line with the path of movement of each of the stops 4,4 and 45, whereby, as can be clearly seen from Fig. 1, the contacting o! these stops with the rubber bumper dennes the limiting positions of the vane member.

As shown ln Fig. l, the relay is deenergized and the biasing weight 61 has moved the vane to a position where the stop l5 is contacting with the bumper `ring 33. Upon energization of the relay, the vane will swing to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, to bring stop Il into contact with ring 33. By employing a mass of rubber of relatively large volume, the energy contained in the moving parts can be readily and quickly 'absorbed by the mass of rubber and thus prevent any great amount of rebound or sharp shock. By employing the steel bumper ring 33, the energy is transferred around the ring and throughout the entire mass of rubber in a manner which would not occur were the stop 44, for example, to strike directly on the rubber. Also, the steel ring prevents undue wear on the rubber and greatly prolonga the operative life of the bumper.

With regard to the construction of the rubber bumper, itis to be noted that with the silver contact members employed in this relay, any sulphur containing rubber which were exposed to atmosphere, would have a very harmful and cori roslve eil'ect on the contact members, and quickly reduce their conducting capacity very greatly. To prevent this, the exposed rubber is nonsulphur containing, as set forth above. Nonsulphur containing rubber, however, does not bond with metal, such as steel, and accordingly, by first employing a thin cylinder of sulphur containing rubber which readily bonds with the steel, the non-sulphur containing rubber, constituting the bulk of the bumper, can be readily molded onto the rod by way of the sulphur containing rubber, with the steel ring held in place largely by the inwardly projecting ring 3|, since the steel ring doesnot readily bond with the non-sulphur containing rubber 3|. In this manner, the sulphur containing rubber is completely enclosed in the other rubber, and hence can produce no harmful eilect on the silver contacts, and at the same time, the entire bumper becomes a molded mass of rubber, cheaply and eiliciently and securely molded in place so as to constitute a long lived and eflicent bumper member.

It has been found in practice that the positioning of the biasing member with respect to the vane member is very critical, and in assembling the relay it is necessary to adjust these two members relatively to each other in a very accurate manner. Thus it is very desirable to have adjusting means between the biasing member assembly and the vane assembly. 'I'his adjusting means is afforded in the following manner.

It can be seen from Fig. 2, that the contact operating assembly, at its inner end, has a disclike head 35, against which bears one of the V- shaped arm members of Fig. 7, such for example, as the member 35 in Fig. 2. Next to this arm 35 is the spacer 33, and against the spacer is the other arm, such as 36. Against this arm 36 is a spacer 33, and, it should be noted, the two arms 35 and 35 and the two spacers 33 and 36 are threaded, not directly on the spindle 32, but on a tubular extension 31 which is integral with the head 35. In this assembly, the tubular member 31 extends slightly beyond the spacer 33 and is headed over or upset, as shown, to tightly interconnect the vane assembly and the contact assembly.

Against spacer 36, bears the head member 33, which is integral with the biasing means assembly BA, and between the crank 11, and this head 33, is a washer 39, which has a large enough opening in it to allow it to be passed over the Screws 93 are employed to connect the biasing means assembly to the vane assembly, and these screws 33 screw into tapped openings 9| in the head 35 and pass through openings which snugly fit the screw in the vane arms and the spacers 33 and 36 and through a snug opening 92 in the washer 39. In the head 33, however, is an enlarged opening 93 which is considerably larger than the body of the screw, and hence permits rotation of the biasing means assembly around the shaft with respect to the other two assemblies due to this loose iit of the opening 93 on the screw 93. In this manner the biasing means assembly can be adjusted anguiarly on the spindle 32 with respect to the other assemblies and then the screw can be tightened up to hold the parts in adjusted position.

As an added means for holding these parts in adjusted position, it will be noted that the washer 09, having a snug iit on the screw is, in eilect, anchored to the screw, and thus by depressing, or forcing, a portion of the washer into an edge groove 94, in head 03, the parts can be additionally locked in position. This can be readily appreciated when it is noted that the screws 3l are xed in position with respect to the vane assembly, and the contact operating assembly, and that the washer 39 is fixed in position with respect to the screws, so that by deforming the washer, the washer can be ilxed in position with respect to the head 30 integral with the biasing means assembly. Thus the three assemblies are rigidly xed in position with regard to angular movement around the shaft and should it be necessary to remove the biasing means assembly for any reason, as for inspection or repair, due to the deformed washer 09, the parts can be readily reassembled in the exact position which they previously had assumed.

The various assemblies carried on spindle l2 are heid in iixed position on the spindle by means of a cotter pin, or the like, 95, and the pivot pin I3, for the contact operator, is driven, or otherwise positioned, in the crank I9, and is held from accidental withdrawal therefrom, by a screw 96, carried by the contact assembly CA. In a similar manner the pivot pin 12, for the biasing means, is held against accidental withdrawal by means of a pin 91, positioned in the mechanism cast- 111g.

If desired, a name plate such as 98, carrying various data, can be fastened, as at 99, to the front of the bottom 8 of the mechanism casting,

so as to be readily visible from the front of the relay through the transparent casing.

Th'e above described relay is a vane type relay of the two-position type. whereby, upon energization it will move to an energized position, and upon deenergization, the biasing means will move it to its normal deenergized position.

In Fig. 4, is a slightly different form of relay, that is, a three-position vane type relay, which has an energized position on each side of its biased deenergized position. Since many of the parts of this three-position relay are identical with the two-position relay, just described, the description of this three-position relay will be largely confined to those features which are distinctive to the three-position characteristics.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the magnetic structure here involved is identical with that described in connection with the two-position relay, as is also the mechanism casting, the contact fingers and their operating means, and the vane and its supporting legs; and accordingly, these parts have been given the same reference characters, but each with a distinctive exponent, as have been used in connection with the two-position relay.

Referring to Fig. 4, it can be seen that with the contacts shown with the relay in its deenergized position, both sets of contacts are open. Upon energization in one direction, one set of contacts will close, and upon energization in the other direction, the other set will close. Of course, to produce the opposite energizations, it is merely necessary to reverse the polarity of one of the two operating coils with respect to the posite direction, all as is well understood to those skilled in this particular art.

Referring to Fig. 5, there is here shown a knife-edge bearing employed in connection with the three-position relay. As before, th'e biasing weight is carried by the arm 101, which is pivoted, as before, at 121, and carries an arm |03, pivoted at its lower end, at 151, and carries at its upper end, a loop |09, having two spaced bearings Ill and |0|, for receiving, respectively, the two spaced imite-edges |02`and |03, the knife-edges being carried by a crank 111, as before, and being a. part of the biasing means assembly, as before.

In order to permit of proper operation in the case of the three-position relay, the stop ll of the two-position relay has been replaced by a shorter stop |04, similar to the stop 051 employed on the other side of the rubber bumper 031.

With the structure as described above, it can be readily seen that, when deenergized, the biasing weight will move downwardly to cause loop |09 to bear symmetrically on the two knife-edges |02 and |03, and to position the vane in a central position, with an equal distance between the rubber bumper 331 and the opposite leg stops |00 and 451. Upon energization in one direction or the other, spindle 321 will rock the spaced double knife-edges carried by crank 111, so as to lift the biasing weight and cause one of the knife-edges to leave its bearing. For example, if spindle 321, as viewed in Fig. 5, is rocked clockwise, the knifeedge |03 will leave its bearing |0| while the knife-edge |02 will operate to lift the connecting arm |08, and with it the biasing weight. The spindle 321, of course, in rocking, will operate through its connecting crank 491 and pin |81 to move the contact operator 411, and in this case in a downward direction, toV close the lower pair of contacts.

As described above, there has been produced a vane type relay of the two-position, and the three-position type, wherein a biasing means is carried on a knife-edge bearing, to thus avoid undue wear on this bearing, which, of necessity, must receive relatively heavy pressures.

Furthermore, the single biasing means serves to bias the three-position relay from either of its extreme operated positions, to the identically same neutral position, due to the particular arrangement of spaced double knife-edges.

Also, a rigid mounting means has been provided for the vane whereby to avoid warping and distortion of the vane withinthe relatively narrow slot through which it must function to be economical in operation, and thus avoids binding and undesirable stresses.

Again, a compact arrangement of parts has been provided whereby to remove the casing from the mechanism and casting, a seal must be broken, but to remove the relay from its supporting rack, no seal need be broken, and this arrangement of parts is constituted primarily by supporting rods passing through tubular members on the mechanism casting with both the rods and the tubular members passing through the relay casing.

Still again. a compact and dependable adjusting means has been provided between the biasing means assembly, and the assemblies for the contact operation and the vane operation, whereby to permit accurate adjustment of these parts in assembly, with rigid maintenance of the parts other, to thereby cause a shifting ileld in the op- 75 in proper position, and the ability of duplicating the adjusting position if, after assembly, it should prove desirable to separate these parts.

The above rather specific description of two forms which this invention can assume, has been given solely by way of example, and is not intended. in any way whatsoever in a limiting sense. Furthermore, it is to be understood that al1 such variations and modiiications, as come within the scope oi' the appended claims. are intended to be covered and protected by the present application.

Having described my invention, I now claim:

l. In a vane relay, in combination, a support, an electro-magnetic operating means in the support, a vane operatively positioned with respect to the operating means and constituted by an elongated plate oi thin metal, a spindle pivotally supported in the support and positioned above, and at substantially right angles to the plane of, the vane, and spaced from the upper edge of the vane, and a relatively rigid arm at each end of the vane, each connected at one end to the vane, and at its other end connected to the spindle so as to connect the vane to the spindle, each said arm comprising two rigid arm members spaced apart from each other at the upper ends, where received on the spindle, to form a trusslike, bifurcated, connecting means.

2. A relay bumper member for preventing rebound and absorbing kinetic energy oi' an armature, comprising, an armature movable in a given path, a support rod positioned with one portion in said path, a cylinder of live rubber moulded onto the rod at said portion, and a rigid metal band connected to, and encircling. the rubber cylinder and constituting the striking member of the bumper.

3. A relay bumper member for preventing rebound and absorbing kinetic energy of a movable part, comprising, a support rod, a cylinder oi' live rubber moulded onto the rod. and a rigid metal band connected to, and encircling, the rubber cylinder and constituting the striking member of the bumper, said cylinder of rubber comprising an inner relatively thin cylinder oi sulphur containing rubber moulded directly onto the rod, and a relatively thick cylinder of sulphur free rubber moulded onto, and completely covering, the thin cylinder, said metal band having an inwardly extending annular llange on its inner face embedded in the said thick cylinder.

4. In a vane relay, in combination, a support member, an electro-magnetic operating means in the member, a vane operatively positioned with respect to the operating means and constituted by an elongated plate of thin metal, a spindle pivotally supported in the member and positioned above, and at right angles to the plane of, the vane, and spaced from the upper edge of the vane, a rigid arm at each end of the vane each connected at one end to the vane and at its other end to the spindle, so as to connect the vane to the spindle, a stop on the inner side oi each oi said arms, a rod carried by the member and extending parallel with the spindle and between the two arms, and a bumper tlxed to the rod and positioned in the path of movement of both of the stops as the vane moves in one direction or the other.

5. In a vane relay, in combination, a support, an electro-magnetic operating means in the support, a vane operatively positioned with respect to the operating means and constituted by an elongated plate of thin metal, a spindle pivotally supported in the support and positioned above,

5 and at right angles to the plane of, the vane. and spaced from the upper edge oi' the vane. a rigid arm at each end oi the vane and each connected at one end to the vane and at its other end to the spindle to connect the vane to the spindle, each said arm comprising two rigid arm members spaced apart at their upper ends where received on the spindle to form a truss-like. bifurcated. connecting means, a stop on the inner side oi' each of said arms, a rod carried by the support and extending parallel with the spindle and between the two arms, and a bumper ilxed to the rod and positioned in the path of movement of both of the stops as the vane moves in one direction or the other.

6. In a vane relay, in combination, a support, an electro-magnetic operating means in the support, a vane operatively positioned with respect to the operating means and constituted by an single rigid metal band encircling the rubberl at the point oi' the V.

8. In a vane relay, in combination, a support casting, an electro-magnetic operating means in the casting, a vane operatively positioned with ends, where received truss-like, biturcated. of the rigid arm members at one end or the vane being integral, respectively, with an arm member at the other end of the vane, and together constituting a v-shaped stamped out, element received on the spindle at the point ot the V, one leg of each of the Vs carrying an integral seat plate bent at right angles to the plane of the V, and the other leg carrying an integral bearing boss extending inwardly from the inner edge of the leg, the seat plate and bearing boss of one v element cooperating, respectively with the bearing boss and seat plate of the other V element, to form a stop support.

9. Ina two position vane'relay, in combination, a pivoted spindle, a vane on the spindle, electromagnetic means ior operating the vane, a biasing arm, means pivoting one end of the arm to a fixed support, a biasing weight on the other end of the arm, a crank on the spindle, a knife-edge carried by the crank, a hanger pivoted to the arm intermediate the ends thereof, and a socket in the other end of the hanger receiving the knife edge.

l0. In a three position vane relay, in combination, a pivoted spindle, a vane on the spindle, electro-magnetic means for operating the vane, a biasing arm', means pivoting one end of the arm to a xed support, a biasing weight on the other end of the arm, a crank on the spindle, two spaced separate knife edges carried by the crank,' a hanger pivoted to the biasing arm intermediate the ends thereof, and two sockets on the other end of the hanger spacedl in like manner to the spacing of the knife edges, and respectively receiving the said knife edges.

l1. In a three position vane relay, in combination, a pivoted spindle. a vane on the spindle, electro-magnetic means for operating the vane, a biasing arm, means pivoting one end of the arm to a fixed support, a biasing weight on the other end of the arm, a crank on the spindle, two separate spaced knife edges carried by the crank, a hanger pivoted to the biasing arm intermediate the ends thereof, and two sockets on the other end of the hanger spaced in like manner to the spacing of the knife edges and respectively supported on the said knife edges,

said two knife edges, when the magnetic means is deenergized, being positioned in the same horizontal plane, whereby energized movement of the vane in either direction from its neutral on the spindle, a biasing weight connected to' the crank, a perforated and perlpherally slotted head fixed to, and spaced from, the crank, a perforated head xed to the vane, a perforated washer on the spindle and between the crank and crank head, a bolt for clamping the vane head to the crank head,.the perforations in .the washer and the vane head registering for snugly receiving the bolt, the perforation in the crank head being considerably larger than the bolt and receiving the bolt, an upset portion on the washer being received in the peripheral slot in the crank head when the said two heads are in proper assembled position to each other and clamped together by said bolt.

13. In a vane relay, in combination, a pivoted spindle, a vane carried by the spindle, electromagnetic means for operating the vane, a crank cn the spindle, a biasing weight connected to the crank, a head. fixed to, and spaced from, the crank, a head xed to the vane, a washer on the spindle and between the crank and crank head, a bolt for clamping the vane head to the crank head. registering opening in the washer and the vane head for snugly receiving the bolt, an opening in the crank head considerably larger than the bolt and receiving the bolt, a peripheral slot in the crank head, an upset portion on the washer received in the slot when the said two heads are in proper assembled position to each other and clamped together by said bolt, a contact finger assembly on the spindle, a contact nger, means operatively connecting the finger to the nger assembly, and means rigidly connecting the finger assembly to the vane head.

JOSEPH F. MERKEL. 

